Shoulder strap

ABSTRACT

A shoulder strap for holding or supporting musical instruments such as guitars, cases, luggage, bags and similar items includes a longitudinally elongated main body extending between connectors connected or connectable to the item. The main body in a vertical condition includes longitudinally spaced rollers rotatably mounted on transverse shafts which are in turn are mounted by elongated cords with the shafts being retained in spaced relationship by spacers on the cords and extending between adjacent pair of shafts. The cords and spacers are of a flexibility that a roller on one shaft may be moved to abut against a roller on an adjacent shaft. The rollers are located to impose the load carried by the strap to shoulder area of a user, advantageously there being more than one roller on each shaft that is adjacent to the shoulder area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to shoulder straps that may used when playing musical instruments such as guitars and for carrying many items, for example, luggage, lap tops, brief cases and similar cases and various types of bags, including golf bags.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

Prior art shoulder straps include those made of woven fabric, nylon, leather and other such flexible materials, some of which include shoulder pads. In using such prior art straps to aid in supporting a musical instrument, for example guitars, the weight thereof is primarily supported by the back and a shoulder which tends to and/or does reduce blood flow and result in the development of back problems. This is especially prevalent when playing heavy guitars over a long period of time. Further, at times while playing an instrument such as a guitar, one hand in moving along the fret board tends to or does move the adjacent portion of the guitar which tends to or does move the strap relative to the shoulder and such movement is resisted by the frictional engagement of the strap with the clothing at the area of the shoulder from which the instrument is supported. This, over time, increases the discomfort experienced by the performer while playing the instrument.

Additionally, when using shoulder straps such as referred to above for carrying items such as various types of bags, for example golf bags and overnight bags, various types of cases, for example brief cases, lap top computers, luggage and other items, as the user moves and the item can move relative the body of the user, the relative movement tends to or does move the strap relative the shoulder with the frictional resistance to such movement being discomforting to the user.

In order to provide shoulder straps that are more comfortable in use in supporting and/or carrying items, this invention has been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shoulder strap includes a pair of longitudinally elongated cords are retained in transversely spaced relationship by rigid shafts or axles with the axles being retained in longitudinal relationship during use of the strap by spacers having the cords extending therethrough. On each axle there is provided at least one roller, the diameter of the rollers being less than half the longitudinal length of the spacers. To the opposite ends of the cords there is provided connector mechanism that is suitable for being connected to or is connected to the item to be carried or supported by the shoulder strap.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and novel means that is extendable over the shoulder of the user for supporting and/or carrying an item such as a musical instruments or other items such as case and bags. In furtherance of the above object, it is another object of this invention to provide a new and novel shoulder strap that is readily movable relative to the shoulder while supporting an item with at least a substantial part of the weight of the item being imposed on the shoulder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the strap of this invention extended over the shoulder of the performer to support a musical instrument such as a guitar;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 other than its shows the strap being used for carrying a case;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the shoulder strap of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the strap of FIG. 3 that is generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarge plan view of one end portion of the strap of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the end portion of the strap shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, part in cross section, of a fragmentary portion of the strap of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring in particular to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the shoulder strap of this invention includes a longitudinally elongated main body, generally designated 10, and end connectors, generally designated 11 and 12, that are respectively connected to the longitudinally opposite ends of the main body. The main body includes longitudinally elongated, flexible cords 14 that are extended through apertures 15 in opposite ends of the transverse shafts (axles) 16 and the end shafts (axles) 17, 18. The apertures extend diametrically through the shafts. The ends of the cords are knotted or suitable clips or other devices (not shown) are mounted on the cord ends to prevent the cords being pulled through the shaft apertures. The cords may be made of, for example a fabric material, for example cotton, or plastic.

On each of the cords to extend between longitudinal adjacent shafts 16 and have the cords extended therethrough are resilient tubular spacers 19 that between each adjacent pair of shafts are of substantially the same lengths. Resilient tubular spacers 20 are provided on each of the cords between shaft 18 and the longitudinally adjacent shaft 16 and shaft 17 and the longitudinally adjacent shaft 16. Spacers 20 may be of greater lengths than spacers 19. The spacers and cords form transversely opposite, longitudinally elongate edge portions E of the strap that extend longitudinally between the connectors. Advantageously, the spacers are made of a flexible plastic material

Advantageously, the apertures 15 may be of diameters at least half again as large as that of the cords but are smaller than the outer diameter of the spacers to prevent the spacers extending into the apertures. The inner diameters of the spacers are substantially larger than the cords, for example at least 33 percent greater to permit easy longitudinal movement of the cords relative to the spacer. The spacers are of sufficient flexibility that they can easily bend, but of a rigidity so as not to collapse (will maintain their tubular shape) when on a horizontal supporting surface 44. Further, the spacers are of a rigidity to, when the strap freely vertically depends from one of its connectors, maintain longitudinally adjacent shafts vertically spaced by dimensions that are at least nearly that of the length of the spacers in a linear condition.

On each of the shafts, other than the end shafts 17, 18, there is at least one roller (bead) 21, advantageously at least three, with the diameter of the circular cylindrical roller apertures 22 through which the shafts extend advantageously being of diameters at least 25 percent larger than the diameters of the shafts that extend therethrough. As a result of the apertures 22 being of larger diameters than that of the shafts, the roller may tilt relative to the shaft such that the central axes of the rollers may extend at the same or different skewed angles, relative to the central axes of the shafts on which the rollers are mounted, or parallel to and spaced from the central axes of the shafts. In addition to the rollers being circularly curved about the central axis of the respective roller aperture central axis, the rollers are also arcuately or circularly curved about an axis that is perpendicular to its aperture central axis and passes therethrough with the arc of curvature or radius of curvature being substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the roller. Thus, each of the rollers has axially opposite, generally parallel annular surfaces 21A of outer diameters substantially less than the maximum outer diameter of the roller and are perpendicular to the central axis of the aperture of the respective roller.

The maximum transverse dimension of all of the rollers on a shaft, when in abutting relationship to one another, is less than the minimum spacing of the apertures 15 that are at the transverse opposite end portions of the shaft. Thus, the rollers have some freedom of transverse movement on the shaft relative to one another and to the shaft.

Advantageously, each of the connectors 11, 12 includes a generally rectangular ring 27 having one end portion of an end piece 28 mounted thereto, the end pieces having button holes 32 through which conventional buttons (peg) 29, 33 respectively on a guitar 30 are extended. An adjustment strip 31 is extended through the ring and around the respective one of the end shafts 17, 18 with one end of the strip secured to a leg of a conventional adjustment buckle 32 and the opposite end portion 31A of the strip adjustably extended through the buckle to be retained in a selected adjusted position whereby the maximum spacing of an end shaft 17, 18 and the respective ring is retained in selected maximum longitudinal adjusted positions.

The spacers are sufficient rigidity that when the strap is held by one end piece to have the remainder of the strap freely vertically depend therefrom, the shaft of each row of rollers is retained in spaced relationship to the vertically adjacent row of rollers which are therebeneath by a dimension at least nearly the longitudinal length of the spacers, for example the rollers of row C are retained vertically spaced from row B and the rollers of row B are retained vertically spaced from row A. However, the spacers are of a flexibility that even with the minimum longitudinal spacing of, for example the rollers in row A from those in row B, when on a horizontal surface without bending the spacers extending therebetween, these spacers and the cords are of a flexibility to permit the leftmost roller of row A as viewed in FIG. 3 to abut against the rightmost roller of row B when the strap is of dimensions similar to those set forth in the last paragraph of this specification. Further, with the central axis of the shaft of row B being in a horizontal plane, the spacers and the cords are of a flexibility that the shaft of row C may be bent to extend at a skewed angle, for example about 20 to 40 degrees relative to the central axis of shaft of row B, including extending in planes other than the horizontal plane of the shaft of row B. As a result, parts of the strap may twist relative to other parts of the strap and the linear spacing of the adjacent rows of rollers may vary a limited amount relative to other rows. Also, the spacers and cords may be of a flexibility that, for example three adjacent rows of rollers with row B being the intermediate row, the rollers of row A may be moved to abut against rollers in row C with or without the shafts of rows A, B, C being parallel relative one another.

In use with the guitar buttons extended through the respective button hole of the end pieces and the strap extended over the shoulder of the user (performer), the rollers that impose a load on the shoulder and adjacent areas of the body are free to rotate with substantially less friction resisting the movement of the strap relative to the shoulder during the playing of a musical instrument, for example a guitar, than with conventional shoulders straps that applicant is aware of. Further the rollers on one shaft are able to tilt at slightly different angles than other rollers on the same shaft and the shaft for one row of rollers are able to tilt at different skewed angles relative to shafts of other rows of rollers. The substantial decrease in resistance to movement of the strap relative to the shoulder area results in a substantial decrease in the discomfort of the performer, particular when the musical instrument is relatively heavy.

The strap of this invention can advantageously be used for carrying items other than musical instruments. For example, as indicated in FIG. 2, conventional snap fasteners 40 may be mounted to the end pieces, for example by having parts of the fasteners extend through the button holes and the hooked portions of the fasteners extended through the bails 41 at opposite ends of the item 42 which may be a brief case, or a piece of luggage, or any one of a number of other items. In place of snap fasteners, the end pieces of the strap may secured to the item to be carried, for example being adhered or otherwise suitably joined to opposed end portions of the item. As with the strap being used for supporting musical instruments, there is substantially less resistance to the movement of the strap, or tendency to move, relative to shoulder resulting from the movement of the item relative to the party carrying item while moving from one place to another than with known conventional straps.

Advantageously, the longitudinal length of the strap is about the same as that of conventional shoulder straps. Further, at least the central longitudinal part of the main body includes at least three rows of rollers and advantageously at least eight rows of rollers whereby there are rows of rollers that impose the load (weight of item supported) on either side of the top part of the shoulder and at least three or four inches below the uppermost part of the shoulder that is subject to having the item load imposed thereon.

It is to be understood that the rows of rollers may include more than three rollers; or fewer rollers, particular adjacent to the end pieces, together with the shafts being of smaller transverse dimensions adjacent the end pieces. Although, not preferred, one or both of the connectors may not include an adjustment strip and buckle.

Advantageously, each of the rollers and the spacers are of the same inner and outer dimension, the shaft apertures are of the same diameters, the minimum transverse spacing of the apertures of the shafts is greater than the maximum combined transverse dimensions of the rollers on the shaft, the spacers 16 are of the same lengths and the rollers on each shaft are of the same size and shape. It is to be understood that in the event the rollers in one row are of smaller maximum outer diameters than the rollers in an adjacent row, the longitudinal dimension of the spacers between the one row and the adjacent rows accordingly may be smaller. If spacers of different lengths are used, the spacers between adjacent shafts through which the cords extend should be the same. Further, the longitudinal dimensions of the spacers may be such that with the strap extending linearly on a horizontal surface with the cords extending substantially parallel, there may be a small spacing of the ends of the spacers from the adjacent shafts as indicate in FIG. 7. In the event the rollers on one shaft are of different diameters than those on adjacent shafts, than the linear length of the spacers could be greater than the dimension of the combined radii of a roller on each of the two adjacent shafts. Also, the cords and spacers may be of a flexibility that they do not extend linearly when the strap is on a horizontal surface, but rather slightly bent arcuately between longitudinally spaced shafts.

As an example of the invention, but not otherwise as a limitation thereon, the rollers may of maximum outer diameters of about 1 inch, of maximum transverse dimensions of about 11/16^(th) of an inch, the minimum transverse dimension between the apertures of a shaft may be about 2 and one quarter inches, the minimum spacing of adjacent shafts 16 when in abutting relationship to the spacers with the spacers extending linearly and parallel to one another may be about 1 and three quarter inches while the minimum spacing of the rollers of adjacent rows of rollers may be about three quarters of an inch and the minimum transverse spacing of the apertures of the shafts 16 may be about 2 and one quarter inches. 

1. A shoulder strap for holding items such as musical instruments, cases, bags, luggage and the like and supporting them from the shoulder of a user, comprising a longitudinally elongated main body having a first end and an opposite second end, a first connector mounted to the first end of the main body for being connected to the item and a second connector mounted to the second end of the main body for being connected to the item to be supported, the main body including a plurality of transverse rows of annular rollers including at least three rows of rollers for imposing a load on a shoulder of a user and means extending longitudinally between the connectors for mounting the rollers for rotation about transverse axes and permitting limited movement of one row relative to the other while maintaining the rows in longitudinal spaced relationship when supporting one of the connectors with the rows of rollers depending therefrom.
 2. The shoulder strap of claim 1 wherein said means includes a transverse shaft for each row of rollers for mounting the rollers of the respective row for rotation.
 3. The shoulder strap of claim 2 wherein at least some of the rows of rollers includes more than one roller on the respective shaft.
 4. The shoulder strap of claim 2 wherein said means includes longitudinally elongated flexible first and second cords having first ends connected to the first connector and second ends connected to the second connector and mounting the shafts for movement relative to one another.
 5. The shoulder strap of claim 4 wherein said means includes longitudinally elongated tubular spacers for maintaining longitudinally adjacent shafts in longitudinal spaced relationship and having the cords extending therethrough.
 6. The shoulder strap of claim 5 wherein the cords and spacers are of a flexibility to permit moving a roller in one row into abutting relationship to a roller in a longitudinally adjacent row.
 7. The shoulder strap of claim 5 wherein the spacers are of lengths at least one and half as great as the maximum radii of two rollers on two adjacent shafts along the longitudinal length of the main body.
 8. The shoulder strap of claim 5 wherein each shaft has transverse opposite first and second end portions, the shaft first end portions having apertures for having the first cord extending therethrough and the shaft second end portions having apertures for having the second cord extending therethrough.
 9. The shoulder strap of claim 8 wherein the inner diameters of the rollers are at least 25 percent greater than the diameter of the shaft on which the rollers are mounted and the combined transverse dimensions of the rollers is less than the minimum transverse spacing of the apertures of the shaft on which the rollers are mounted.
 10. The shoulder strap of claim 8 wherein at least one of the connectors includes an end piece having a musical instrument button hole and adjustable strip means for connecting the end piece to the respective end of the main body.
 11. A shoulder strap for holding items such as musical instruments, cases, bags and luggage and supporting them from the shoulder of a user, comprising a longitudinally elongated main body having a first end and an opposite second end, a first connector mounted to the first end of the main body for being connected to the item and a second connector mounted to the second end of the main body for being connected to the item to be supported, the main body including a plurality of transverse shafts, at least one roller rotatably mounted on each of said shafts, and transversely spaced, longitudinally elongated strap first and second edge portions for mounting the shafts and retaining them in longitudinally spaced relationship when the strap extends vertically to maintain the roller on one shaft vertically spaced from the roller on the adjacent shaft, the first and second edge portions having first ends connected to the first connector and opposite second ends connected to the second connector.
 12. The shoulder strap of claim 11 wherein the shafts include transversely opposite first and second end portions with each shaft end portion having an aperture extending diametric therethrough and the shaft apertures are spaced to permit limited transverse movement of the at least one roller on the respective shaft and the strap edge portions include longitudinally elongated flexible cords extending through the apertures of the respective end portion of the shafts having rollers thereon.
 13. The shoulder strap of claim 12 wherein each of the strap edge portions includes flexible tubular spacers with the respective edge portion cord extended therethrough to, with the spacers in a linear condition, retain the shafts having rollers thereon sufficiently spaced to maintain the rollers in longitudinal spaced relationship when the strap extends vertically.
 14. The shoulder strap of claim 13 wherein the main body along its length has an intermediate portion having at least three shafts that each has several rollers thereon, the spacers are of lengths that are at least one and half times the radii of the rollers on the adjacent shafts of the intermediate portion.
 15. The shoulder strap of claim 14 wherein each of the connectors includes an end piece attachable to the item, at least one of the connectors includes adjustable means for connecting an end piece to the respective main body end and the cords and spacers are of a flexibility that a roller on one shaft is movable into abutting relationship to a roller on an adjacent shaft and the shafts are movable to have their central axes at skewed angles relative to one another.
 16. The shoulder strap of claim 14 wherein the main body when extending vertically has first, second and third adjacent rows of rollers on a first, second and third shaft respective with the second row of rollers being longitudinal intermediate the first and second rows and that the cords and spacers are of a flexibility that the first row can be moved into abutting relationship with the third row and that the spacers are of a rigidity to maintain a tubular shape when the main body is on a horizontal supporting surface. 